The Colorado State University Plant Diagnostic Clinic blog serves as an information resource on disease and insect problems or questions that we see in the clinic or get asked frequently.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Tomato/Potato Psyllid

This year along the Front Range of Colorado has been devastating for fresh market potato producers and home gardeners alike. The culprit this year is an insect, the tomato/potato psyllid, which comes to us courtesy of the southern states and Mexico. They arrive via the southerly air currents that bring us other pathogens like wheat rust. This insect injects a toxic saliva into the plant that causes the potato to turn yellow with curled leaves. Potatoes are smaller or non-existent, reducing harvest yields considerably. Dr, Whitney Cranshaw, CSU Extension Entomologist, was interviewed recently by 9News reporter Adam Chodak. The video link is attached. http://www.9news.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=603977271001